Star · A2V
ξ Aur
ξ Aur is a main-sequence star of spectral type A2V in the constellation Auriga, 243.9 light-years from the Sun.
| Other names | HIP 27949 |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Auriga |
| Distance | 243.9 light-years (74.8 pc) |
| Apparent magnitude | magnitude 4.96 |
| Absolute magnitude | magnitude 0.59 |
| Spectral type | A2V |
| Surface temperature | 9,520 K |
| Luminosity | 63.5 L☉ |
| Radius | 2.93 R☉ |
| Mass | 2.97 M☉ (estimated) |
| Right ascension (J2000) | 5h 54m 50.8s |
| Declination (J2000) | +55° 42′ 25″ |
| Space velocity (relative to the Sun) | 11.5 km/s |
In the sky
Visible to the naked eye under a dark sky (apparent magnitude 4.96). Visible from the whole Northern Hemisphere and south to latitude 34° S. North of latitude 34° N it never sets. It stands highest at midnight in December, the best time to observe it.
Through a telescope from Earth
Light's journey
The light you see tonight set out around the year 1782. At the speed of Voyager 1, the fastest craft leaving the Solar System (16.9 km per second), the trip would take 4.3 million years.
The Sun seen from there
From a planet around ξ Aur, the Sun would look like a star of magnitude 9.20, in the direction where our sky has the constellation Ara. It would be invisible to the naked eye.
Neighbours
Its nearest neighbours in the catalogue (within 20 light-years):
- HIP 25566 19.2 light-years
- HIP 26710 19.4 light-years
Position, brightness and colour from the HYG / AT-HYG catalogue; temperature, luminosity, radius and mass are approximate values computed from these observations.